1. World Health Organization named JN-One, the new form of Omicron strain of Corona virus, as ‘Variant of Interest’
The World Health Organization has named JN-One, the new form of Omicron strain of corona virus, as ‘ Variant of Interest ‘ due to its rapid spread . Meanwhile, the organization has said that this new form of Corona currently poses no threat to people, and the existing vaccines will provide protection from it. JN-One has been found in many countries of the world including China, Britain, India and America . The World Health Organization is monitoring several Omicron-related variants, including JN-One. However, none of these are cause for concern.
2 Parliament passed the Indian Code of Justice II, the Indian Civil Defense II Code and the Indian Evidence II Bill
Indian Justice Second Code 2023 , Indian Civil Security Second Code 2023 and Indian Evidence Second Bill 2023 have been passed in the Parliament . The Indian Justice Second Code 2023 will replace the Indian Penal Code 1860. This is the main law on criminal offenses in the country. The new bill includes community service as a punishment. The Indian Civil Defense Second Code 2023 will replace the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973. It has provisions for the procedure for arrest, prosecution and bail. The Indian Evidence Second Bill 2023 will replace the Indian Evidence Act 1872. The Act has provisions related to admissibility of evidence in the courts of the country. This will apply to all civil and criminal cases. FIR in these three bills. There is a provision to do the entire process from case diary, charge sheet and verdict in digital form.
3 Parliament also approved the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Tenure) Bill, the Telecommunications Bill and the Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill.
Parliament has passed the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Tenure) Bill 2023 . The Bill includes provisions related to the appointment, salary and removal from office of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. According to the provisions of the Bill, the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners will be appointed by the President on the basis of the recommendations of the Selection Committee. The selection committee will include the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha or the leader of the largest party. Parliament has passed the Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill 2023 . The Bill seeks to simplify the online process of checking and registering titles of newspapers and magazines by the Registrar General of Newspapers in the country. In this, a provision has also been made for prior permission of the Central Government for publication of editions of foreign newspapers and magazines in India. Apart from this, Parliament passed the Telecommunication Bill 2023. has passedIt aims to bring about change and reform in the telecom sector including services and networks.
4 Proceedings of both houses of Parliament adjourned indefinitely, winter session ends a day before the scheduled period
The meeting of both the houses of Parliament was adjourned indefinitely . The meetings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die a day before the scheduled end of the winter session . The winter session of Parliament, which began on the 4th of this month, was to end on the 22nd. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla , in his concluding statement, said that the House passed 18 important bills in 14 sittings . He said that during this period 12 new bills were also introduced in the Parliament. Shri Birla said that the proceedings of the Lok Sabha were 74 percent successful . Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar in his concluding statement said that the House transacted important business during the session. He said that a total of 17 bills were passed during the session . These include Jammu and Kashmir, appointment of election commissioners and three criminal law bills.
5 Chillai Kalan started in Kashmir
Chillai Kalan has started in Kashmir . During this period the temperature goes below the freezing point at many places . The minimum temperature in Srinagar, Pahalgam, Qazigund and Kokernag has dropped below the freezing point. The Meteorological Department has predicted dry weather in Kashmir for the next few days. Due to drop in temperature many slow moving water bodies have frozen over. Chillai Kalan is a period of severe cold of forty days . During this time, cold wave prevails in this area and the temperature drops drastically. The period of Chillai Kalan will end on January 31.
6 Malaysia bans Israeli cargo ships
Malaysia bans all Israeli cargo ships from landing at its ports bannedBesides, ships bound for Israel have also been barred from entering any port with immediate effect. A statement said the sanctions are a response to Israel’s actions that disregard humanitarian principles during its war against Palestine. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that both these restrictions are in effect with immediate effect.
7 Textile Ministry launches “Paat-Mitro” application to facilitate jute farmers
To provide important information about MSP and agronomy to jute farmers , Ministry of Textiles launched “ Paat-Mitro ” , a mobile application developed by Jute Corporation of India Limited (JCI) during the ‘ Jute Seminar ’. Smt. Rachna Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles launched this application, which is available in 6 languages. is available inThe application can be freely downloaded from Google Play Store and all the functionalities of the application are made available free of cost to the users.
8 Commerce Department assists Indian Trade Promotion Council to organize Indus Food
The Trade Promotion Council of India in collaboration with the Department of Commerce will organize Indus Food at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida from 8 to 10 January 2024 . The event is being organized on a much larger scale than its previous edition and the exhibition area is being doubled from 30,000 square meters to 60,000 square meters. More than 2,500 global buyers, more than 5,000 domestic buyers and more than 86 retail chains will participate in it. For the first time, in addition to 1050 domestic exhibitors, more than 120 foreign exhibitors will be participating. New categories of food processing machinery, fresh fruits and vegetables and wines and spirits have been included.
9 Three new sub-schemes under RAMP
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) has launched three sub-schemes under the RAMP programme , which aims to promote the MSME sector in India. The scheme aims to help MSMEs adopt green technology with interest subvention and credit guarantee support. The implementing agency is SIDBI . There are three sub-schemes: Scheme for Financing MSME Green Investment and Transformation (MSE Uphaar Scheme) , MSE Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy (MSE SPICE Scheme) , MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for Delayed Payments . The Financing Scheme for MSME Green Investment and Transformation (MSME Uphaar Scheme) aims to help MSMEs adopt green technology with interest subvention and credit guarantee support. MSE Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy (MSE SPICE Scheme) is the first scheme of the Government to support circular economy projects which will be done through credit subsidy and will realize the dream of MSME sector towards zero emissions by 2070. . The MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for Delayed Payments is the first of its kind to integrate legal support with modern IT tools and Artificial Intelligence to address the incidence of delayed payments for micro and small enterprises. RAMP Scheme is a World Bank assisted central sector scheme that supports various COVID-19 related interventions being run by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME).
10 Kolattam Dance
Kolattam dance was recently performed during the children’s festival Balotsav in Vijayawada , Andhra Pradesh . Kolattam is a folk dance of the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It is part of a religious performance where female dancers pay homage to the temple goddess in many areas of Andhra Pradesh. Kolattam dance is mainly a women’s dance, men are not included in it. This form of dance is also called Kolkollannalu or Kollannalu . This popular form of dance is generally performed by forming a group where two performers each are grouped as a pair. Each dancer holds two sticks and swings these sticks in a rhythmic manner. Kolattam Kara is a stick made of solid wood and lacquer is used in Kolattam.
11 Indian government cautions public against smishing
The Government of India has issued a warning regarding a new and sophisticated scam called “ smishing ”. The term is a combination of “ SMS ” (Short Message Service) and “ phishing ”, which refers to a malicious practice that uses text messages to trick individuals into revealing confidential information. These deceptive messages may request personal details such as credit card numbers, Social Security information or login credentials. The excuse for these requests often revolves around security verification or account updates. To combat the rising wave of smishing, individuals are encouraged to report any incidents immediately.
12 Partnership between Suzlon and REC Ltd on non-fund based working capital
Suzlon Group, India’s largest renewable energy solutions provider, has recently entered into a definitive agreement with REC Limited, a government entity, for critical working capital facilities. This strategic partnership is set to enhance Suzlon’s ability to meet its working capital needs, which is critical to execute its extensive current order book and potential future projects.
13 The share of agriculture in GDP of FY23 decreased to 15%
Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda told the Lok Sabha that due to growth in industrial and service sectors, the share of agriculture in India’s GDP declined to 15 percent in the last financial year . In 1990-91, the share of agriculture in GDP was 35 percent. The agriculture and allied sector registered an average annual growth of four percent during the last five years. As far as the global scenario is concerned, the share of agriculture in the world GDP has also decreased in the last decades and in recent years it is at around four percent. The Agriculture Minister also informed that since the financial year 2019-20, Rs 106.25 crore has been given to 1,524 agricultural startups.
14 Gaza Capital Business Book Awards: ‘Against All Odds’ and ‘Winning Middle India’ declared joint winners
The 5th edition of Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2023 is jointly awarded to “ Against All Odds: The IT Story of India ” written by S Chris Gopalakrishnan, N Dayasindhu and Krishnan Narayanan and “Winning Middle India: The Story of India” written by TN Hari and Bala Srinivas. Awarded to “ India’s New-Age Entrepreneurs ”.
15 NHAI launches ERS mobile app for quick emergency response
The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 as amended from time to time, provide for enhanced penalties for violation of traffic rules for better road safety. Enforcement of traffic laws falls under the purview of the respective state governments and union territory administrations. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has created a Computer Aided Dispatch System to help 1033 call center operators locate the nearest available on-road unit (ambulance/crane/patrol unit) and dispatch the on-road units. NHAI has developed ERS mobile application to relay related information . This system has been developed to provide quick response to emergency calls.
